Crisis is a volunteer organization based in the UK. Crisis opens seven centers between 23 – 30 December offering homeless or vulnerably housed people companionship, access to essential services, learning opportunities and a program of entertainment.
Volunteering at Crisis Open Christmas
If you are homeless or living in hostel accommodation, Christmas can be a lonely and depressing time. For the past 35 years, Crisis Open Christmas has helped to alleviate that loneliness, providing Christmas Centres across London from 23 – 30 December that not only offer vital companionship, hot meals and warmth, but a wide range of essential services that homeless people do not normally have access to.
In 2006 over 6500 volunteers gave up their time over the Christmas week to support our work.
Crisis started recruiting for Crisis Open Christmas volunteers in October 2007. If you are interested in volunteering at the next COC you can do so in five ways:
As a general volunteer
This role gives you an opportunity to take part in a variety of tasks which ensure the safe and effective running of the Centre. Tasks such as welcoming guests and serving food, to washing hair and sorting bedding. We need about 85 per cent of volunteers to carry out this role.
As a support volunteer
Join the team that makes the COC happen! From logistics and operational roles to driving vehicles, coordinating food deliveries to being a translator, we need key people to help deliver the event.
As a services volunteer
Use your specialist skills to help deliver the variety of services we provide our guests – medical professionals, advice practitioners, hairdressers, massage therapists, chefs and many more.
As a learning and skills volunteer
Help us inspire and entertain our guests. Learning and skills volunteers have a unique opportunity to engage with our guests on a very personal level. Learning and skills covers a wide range of activities.
As set-up volunteers
Help get the centers ready for our guests before 23 December, and put them back to normal after 30 December.
Crisis needs specialist Crisis Open Christmas volunteers
Homeless people relying on Crisis Open Christmas (COC) this year for shelter and care. They could be left without essential services if more specialist volunteers do not step forward before doors open from 23 to 30 December.
Crisis urgently needs:
* opticians
* drivers
* doctors
* healthcare specialists
* dependency specialists
* pharmacists
* dentists
* podiatrists
* caterers
* befrienders
* advisors
* hairdressers
These specialists are crucial to give homeless people essential services they may not have accessed since last year’s event. Volunteers are also desperately needed for night shift duties.
For more information about Crisis, please visit their website.
